Protector for third rails of electric railways.



- Panama Nov. 25,1902; H. mmls PROTEGTOB FUBTHIBD RAILS 0F ELECTRIC vRlULW-WS. (Apphchon Bled June 23 1902 (llollndel.)

m: uonmsrrmre co. morouwo., wAsnmar UNITED VSTATES PATENT ,OFFICE. y

HOWARD BROOKS, OF WHEATON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS TO GEORGE W. BROWN AND JOI-IN O. MASTIOK, OF WI-IEATON, ILLINOIS.

PROTECTOR FOR THIRD RAILS OF ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 714,446, dated November 25, 1902.

Application filed June 23,1902.

To all whom t may concern.-

Beit known that I, HowAnnBRooKs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wheaton, in the county of Dupage and Stateof Illinois,

have invented a certainA new and useful Improvement in Protectors for Third Rails of Electric Railways, of which the following is a specication.

It is the practiceto leave the third rail exxo posed, and owing to the powerfulcurrent employed the exposure of thethird rail renders the use of such `rail dangerous in the event of contact therewith, and `if bridged by a con ductor of electricity the current is liable to be shunted orshort-circuited or other damage created. It is therefore very desirable to guard and protectthe third rail,without, however, affecting the transmission of the current or impairing theutility of the rail.

The objects of this invention are to construct a simple, eflicient, and reliable guard or protector for a third rail by the use of which danger from accidental contact with the rail is reduced to a minimum and the a5 liability of moisture affecting the rail as to its transmission qualities is obviated to the greatest extent possible; to incase or cover the third rail on all sides except the contact side for the trolley with a protector or guard `3o made of material which is a non-conductor of electricity and which will be impervious to t and shed Water or moisture and which to the greatest extent possible will prevent Water and moisture from obtaining access to the 3 5 rail; to construct a divided or two-part guard or protector for a third rail consisting of sections of suitable non-conducting material with overlapping ends for the sections of the upper division or half of the guard or protector; 4o to furnish a divided sectional guard or protector for a third rail, the sections of the up` per and lower portions of the guard or protector breakingjoints; to protect the corners `of the lower division or half of the guard or protector from being fractured or broken accidentally; to locate andlsupport the third rail and itsguard orprotector in close proxy imity to the track-rail without increasing the liability of bridging or spanning the third 5o rail and the track-rail by a conductor of electricity,`whicl1 would affect the transmission of inafter described and claimed.

Serial No. 112,809. (No model.)

the current through the third rail, and to improve generally the construction of the guard or protector and the means for inclosing the third rail in the guard or protector and attaching the assembled parts in position for the third rail to be operative.

The invention consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts here- 6o In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a portion of a third rail with the guard or protector therefor and showing also the chairs for supporting the parts in position; Fig. 2, a cross-section through the third rail and its guard or protector, showing the end of the lower division or half of the guard or protector in elevation and showing the chair and the tie in elevation, with the track-rail in section; Fig. 3, a detail of the chair, show- 7o ing the web or dn between the base and the top plate or support in section.

The third rail A in the construction shown is in the form of a channel-iron having a base a, a top flange a', and a bottom flange a2, the 75 base a furnishing the contact for the trolley wheel or shoe. The third rail is inclosed in a guard or protector consisting, as shown, of an upper division or half and a lower division or half. The guard or protector can be made 8o 'of burnt clay, concrete, or othersuitable material having non-conductive qualities and capable of being formed into shapeto be applied to the third rail and furnish a guard or protector on all sides except on the open side, where the trolley enters. The upper division or half B of the guard or protector is made in sections of any suitable length. Each section has a projected rim b, a body ib', a depending rim b2, and a flange b3, extending 9e from the lower end of the depending rim. The body b nts over theouter face of the upper iiange ct' of the third rail for the projected rim to hang forwardly and downwardly beyond the edge of the upper fiange a', so as 95 to form a shed at the top over the third rail, and the depending rim b2 extends partway down on the rear face of the base a of the third rail, so that when a section is in place the upper flange and a portion of the base on roo the exterior face will be encompassed by the upper division or half of the guard or pro tector. Each section B of the upper division or half of the guard or protector has an enlarged end B', into which is entered the end of the adjoining sect-ion, so that the enlarged end overlies the end ofthe adjoining section at the juncture between the two sections and forms a stop against the ready entrance of water and moisture between the ends of the adjoining sections. The lower division or half C of the guard or protector is made of sections of the same length as the sections B of the upper division of the guard or prorector. Each section has a front or inner ridge or rib c, a body c', and an upwardly-A extending rim c2, terminating in a curved end face to enter a concave face in the end of the depending rim b of each section B and having extending out from the rim c2 a flange c3, coinciding with the flange b3 when the two divisions or halves are placed or brought together, with the upper division or half B on the lower division or half, as shown in Figs. l and 2. The ridge or rib c abuts against the end ot' the lower flange a2 of the third rail, and the body c abut-s against the under face of the lower flange, and the rim c2 extends partly upon the base Ct of the third rail, against the exterior face thereof, so that when the third rail is in place its lower side is supported and covered on the exterior by the lower division or halt of the guard or protector, and its upper side is covered or supported by the upper division or half of the guard or protector, inclosing the third rail within its guard or protector on all sides except at the open front, as shown in Fig. 2.

The upper and lower divisions or halves when in place around the third rail are held in position by bolts D, the stems d of which pass through suitable holes therefor in the flanges b3 and c3, and the bolts are held, as shown, by spring-keys Ct/ passing through the projecting end of the stem below the face of the ilange c3 of the lower division or half of the guard or protector, or the bolts can be held in anyother suitable manner, the springkeys furnishing, however, a ready means tor releasing the bolts to be withdrawn. The outer corner of the lower division or half of the guard or protector, at the front side thereof, is protected against accidental injurvfroxn blows or otherwise by an angle-iron E, one flange e of which abuis against the front face of the ridge or rib c and the other flange e of which abuts against the under face c/ in line with the ridge or rib, and the under corner at the rear side of the lower division or halt' of the guard or protector is also protected against accidental injury from blows or otherwise byan angle-iron E, the flanges e and e ot' which abut against the corner faces of the lower division or halt` of the guard or protector. The upper and lower divisions or halves ot' the guard or protector are arranged for their sections to break joints, as shown in Fig. l, and the angle-iron corners of the lower division or half of the guard or protector may be continuous, so as to furnish a support for the corners as well as a protection therefor.

The third rail and the guard or protector surrounding the third rail are supported in chairs located at suitable distances apart and attached to the ends ot' the track-ties. The chairs shown each have a receiver F, formed of a bottom plate fand end flanges f, into which the lower division or half of the guard or protector with the angle-irons at its corners are entered, so as to support the third rail and its guard or protector by the lower division or halt of the guard or protector resting on the receiver F, as shown in Fig. 2. The receiver is mounted on a web F', consisting of wings f2, standing in right-angle rela'- tion to each other and extending from a bottom plate F2, having holes therein for the passage ot bolts f3 or other suitable means for securing the chair as a whole to the end of a tie by the bottom plate and have the chair support the third rail and its guard or protector at the proper plane for the admission of the trolley into the open side of the third rail and its guard or protector. The third rail and its guard or protector are attached, as shown in Fig. 1, to the ends of track-ties G, with intermediate track-ties G' between the ties G for the chairs, and on the track-ties G and G' are secured the track-rails H in any usual and well-known manner. The third rail and its guard or protector are located in proper relation to the track-rail for the trolley on the car running on the track-rails to enter the open side of the third rail to engage with the base a of the third rail for taking up the current in the usual manner. The body c of each section ot the lower division or half of the guard or protector can be provided with holes g for allowing the escape of any water that may enter between the lower flange a2 of the third rail and the body c of the lower division or half of the protector.

The ychairs can be affixed to the ends of their ties at regular distances apart for the reception of the third rail and its guard or protector. The angle-iron corners for protecting the under edges of the lower division or half of the guard or protector can be set in position, and the sections of the lower division or half can be slipped or entered into position beneath the third rail, contacting the lower flange and part ot' the base on the outer face. The sections of the upper division or half of the guard or protector can be slipped or entered into place on the sections of the lower division or halt of the guard or protector, so as to break joints with the sections of the lower division or half land with the end of one section of the upper division or half of the guard or protector entered beneath the overhanging cap or enlarged end of the adjacent section, as shown in Fig. 1, with the inner face ot the upper division or half of the guard or protector contacting the upper flange and a part of the base of the third rail on the outer face. The two divisions or halves of the IOO IIO

guard or protector are held together against displacementby the stemsof the bolts D passing through the adjoining ianges b3 and c3 of the respective divisions or halves of the guard or protector,completing the incasement ofthe third rail within the guard or protector and leaving an opening at the front side for 1 i the admission of the trolley. i

`It will be seen that when inclosed by the guardor protector the third rail is covered on all sides except the front with a guard or protector of a nature to insulate the third rail against contact therewith, and the guard or -protector is of a nature to prevent the admissionof sleet or moisture to the contact-face of the third'rail to an extent that would interfere with the proper operation of the trolley on the third rail. The guard or protector also serves as a shed against the admission of water or moisture to an injurious degree, and.

by means of the openings in the body of the lower division orhalf of the guard or protector any accumulation of water or moisture i will be prevented, 'as the water or moisture is free to escape through the holes. The guard orprotector, made of non-conductive material, is a preventive against placing anything 1- case of a breakage of a section of either the upper or lower division or half such section can be i easily j removed and replaced by a whole section, it only being necessary to withdraw the tie-bolts, remove the broken section,

insert a new section, and replace the tie-bolts.

The guard or protector also enables the third rail to be located much closer to the track-` rail than can be donewithout the guard or protector, as the guard or protector prevents any accidental spanning or bridging of the space between the third rail and the track-rail to interfere with the transmission of the current through the third rail. The guard or protector is a safeguard against contact with i i i the third rail `by man or beast, thereby insuringsafety against injury or death from contact with the third rail. i The guard or protector" is simplein construction, can be readily and quickly applied, is easily repaired,

i and furnishes a coverfor a third rail which insures against accidents, all of which fea-` tures are of utility and advantage in the use of third rails for transmitting an electric current.

`The channel-iron formation of the third rail by its upper and lower flanges furnishes aguide for the trolley to run on the base of the rail without danger of side movement to displace the trolley from its contact with the base of the rail. The base or contact face of the rail `is set in wardly, so as to leave a space at the front, which prevents rain and sleet from en-1 tering to` interfere with the contact between the trolley and the rail, and an additional safeguard against the admission of rain and sleet` is the downwardly and forwardly extending rim of the upper division or half of the guard or protector, which forms a shed under which the rain and sleetcannot readily pass. The guard or protector, while shown in connection with a third rail of channel-iron formation, can be applied to and used with rails of other formation so long as the form of the rail is one to enable the guard or protector to be placed thereover and secured in position as a covering, the acting face of the rail being within the guard or protector, and the guard or protector can be changed to suit the requirements of the rail so long as it is capable of inclosing the rail against contact therewith except by the trolley. The guard or protector by enabling the third rail to be placed closer to the track-rail allows ties of a`uniform length to be used, thus avoiding eXtra-length ties for supporting the third rail and making a saving in the cost of ties.

That I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isi l. In a guard or protector .for third rails, the combination of a detachable sectionalu pper division or half consisting of an overhanging rim, a main body and a depending rim with a lateral flange and made of nonconductive material, a detachable sectional lower division or half consisting of a front ridge or rib, a main body and an upwardlyextending rim with a lateral flange and made of non-conductive material,and tie-bolts pass ing through the lateral iianges of the upper and lower divisions or halves ofthe guard or protector, substantially as described.

2. In a guard or protector for `third rails, the combination of a detachable sectionalupper division or half consisting of an. overhanging rim, a main body and a depending rim with a lateral iiange and made of `nonconductive material, a detachable sectional lower division or half consisting of a front ridge or rib, a main body having holes thereinand an upwardly-extending rim with a lateral ange and made of non-conductive material, and tie-bolts passing through the lateral flanges of the upper` and lower divisions or halves of the guard or protector, substantially as described.

3. In a guard or protector for third rails, the combination of a detachable sectional upper division or half consisting of an overhanging rim, a main body and a depending rim with alateral flange and made of nonconductive material and each section having at one `end an enlargement or flange for receiving the end of the adjoining section, a detachable sectional lower division or half con-` sisting of a front ridge or rib, a main body and an upwardly-extending rim with a lateral flange and made of non-conductive material, and tie-bolts passing through the lateral iianges of the upper and lower divisions or halves of the guard or protector, substantially as described. i

IOO

IIO

4. In a guard or protector for third rails, the combination of a detachable sectional upper division or half consisting of an overhanging rim, a main body and a depending rim with a lateral llange and made of nonconductive material, a detachable sectional lower division orhalf consisting of a front ridge or rib, a main body and an upwardlyextending rim with a lateral ange and made of non-conductive material, tie-bolts passing through the lateral flanges of the upper and lower divisions or halves of the guard or protector, and angle-irons for the under corners of the lower division or half, substantially as described.

5. In a guard or protector for third rails, the combination of a detachable sectional upper division or llalf consisting of an overhanging rim, a main body and a depending rim with a lateral flange and made of nonconductive material, a detachable sectional lower division or half consisting of a front ridge or rib, a main body and an upwardlyextending rim with a lateral flange and made of non-conductive material, tie-bolts passing through the lateral ilanges of the upper and lower divisions or halves of the guard or protector, angle-irons for the under corners of the lower division or half, and chairs supporting the third rail and the guard or protector therefor, substantially as described.

6. In a guard or protector for third rails, the combination of a third rail of channeliron formation in cross-section, a divided guard or protector comprising an upper detachable sectional division or half and a lower detachable sectional division or half, the upper division or half consisting of an overhanging rim, a main body and a depending rim with a lateral flange and the lower division or half consisting of a front ridge or rib, a main body and an upwardly-extending rim with a lateral flange, both divisions or halves made of non-conductive material, and tie-bolts passing through the lateral flanges of the upper and lower divisions or halves of the guard or protector for retaining the two divisions or halves in position to inclose the rail on the top, bottom and rear side leaving the front side open for the admission of the trolley to contact the inner face of the base of the channel-iron third rail, substantially as described.

HOWARD BROOKS.

Witnesses: THOMAS A. BANNING, OscAR W. Bonn. 

